Container



Feb. l9,- 1935. 1., v. ARONSON CONTAINER Original Filed Oct. 21, 1929 NVENTOR I 0M5 M01250 W,M ATTORNEYS j Patented Feb. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES CONTAINER Louis V. Aronson, Newark, N. J., assignor to Art Metal Works, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Original application October 21,1929, Serial No.

401,088. Divided and this application January 23, 1930, Serial No. 422,730 1 -11 Claims. (Cl. 206-41) My invention relates to a container, casing or device, hereinafter generically termed a container and adapted to be associated wither receive a package of cigarettes, or the like, said container having a cover, usually pivoted, which is adapted to overlie the top of the cigarette package.

My invention relates to a, container within which a package, as aforesaid, is received, said container comprising a movable or pivoted cover which may be released by suitably applied manual pressure.

Further objects, advantages and characteristics of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

My invention resides in the container, and in the arrangement and features ofconstructio-n of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

Phis application is a continuation of my pending application Serial No. 401,088, filed October 21, 1929.

For an illustration of some of the many forms my invention may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of container having a cigarette package associated therewith; f

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the container shown in Fig. 1; I 1

Figure 3 is an end elevational view, partly broken away, of my novel container, within which a cigarette package is shown as disposed;

Fig. 4 is a transverse, vertical sectional view taken on the line 44. of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a plan view'of the container with the cover in open position and partly broken away;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of my novel container; Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary viewshow- 'ing one form of mechanism for biasing the cover of the container to open position;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view corresponding with Fig. l-and showing another form of my invention; and c Fig. 9 is an end elevational view of the container of Fig. 8 and the cigarette package therein, the cover of said container being in open position.

Referring to the drawing, C represents a. corn tainer constructed in accordance with my invention and herein shown as comprising a base 1 from which upstands a front wall 2 and a rear wall 2a, said base and walls, in the example shown, forming substantially a U-shaped structhe outer face of wall 2.

ture for the reception of a cigarette package P, as

hereinafter more fully described. i

A container C constructed in accordance with myinvention comprises a cover member 3 movable or adjustable, in any suitable manner, so that 5 an opening in the top of the cigarette package P may be exposed for the withdrawal of one or more cigarettes A from said package. The cover member Bmay be provided with a shallow downturned flange, if desired, the hereinafter described latching member being formed thereon, if desired. As herein illustrated, the cover memher 3 is pivoted to one. of of the container walls, this wall, as illustrated, being the container wall 2 to which said cover member 3 may be pivoted 15 in any suitable manner, such, for example, as illustrated, by the provision of a set of spaced, perforated ears on the wall 2 immediately adjacent its upper end and another set of spaced perforated ears on the cover member 3 along one edge thereof, all of said earsbeing disposed in alinement as illustrated inFig. 5 and having a pin or rod 4 extending therethrough. Or any other suitable pivotal arrangement may be utilized.

The cover member 3 is adapted to occupyeither an open position as indicated in Fig. 1 by the full lines or 'a closed position as indicated in Fig. 4-. or by the broken linesoi Fig. 1. In accordance with my invention, the cover member 3 is biased toward and into open position in any suitable manner such, for exampleyas by the helical spring 5 which is coiled around the pin 4 and has its opposite ends 5a, 5a coacting, respectively, with said cover member 3- and the wall; 2, Fig. 7. If

desired, suitable stop mechanism, not shown, may

substantially an angle of degrees from open position or until the rear edge thereof engages Any suitable arrangement may be utilized for retaining the cover memberB inclosed position. To this end and as herein illustrated, the wall 2a may terminate in a flange or lip 2b with which the curved or angular edge 3a of the cover member 3 is adapted to coact. r

The aforesaid base 1 and Walls 2,, Zaparticularly the latter, preferablyareformed from suitable sheet material, as steel, having a rather high degree of resiliency. With the. form of my invention disclosed in Figs. 1-7, the walls 2, 2a are the only walls rising from the base 1 if the side flanges or side wallsections 6, 6a are neglected, the latter preferably being spaced from the walls 2, 2a, Fig. 3, and serving merely to prevent sidewise movement of the package P with respect to the container; preferably, the aforesaid side flanges 6, 6a, or equivalent, are provided but they may be omitted if desired.

To the end that the walls 2, 2a may be maintained in spaced substantially parallel relation, it

is desirable that they be connected together independently of the base 1 and the cover member 3. Such connection may be effected in a variety of ways as may be desirable and suitable, As herein illustrated, said walls 2, Zaare thus connected by straps '7, 711, each strap spanning the space between said walls and being connected to the side edges thereof. As shown herein, although not necessarily, the straps 7, 7a are constituted by sheet metal sections formed integrally with therespective walls 2, 2a, the ends of the sections of a pair thereof being disposed in overlapping relation and riveted at 8, Figs. 1, 3 and 5, or otherwise suitably secured together.

The herein illustrated package P may be of a usual commercial typewhich contains a plurality of cigarettes A, usually twenty in number, when the package is full. Said package P may be such as comprises an encircling tissue wrapper which is removed, an advertising-carrying outer wrapper and an inner wrapper and, usually, the upper end of said package is covered by a folded part of the inner wrapper and not by the outer wrapper. Hence, to open the package P, such folded part of the inner wrapper may be cut or torn away to expose the ends of a number of cigarettes A, said cigarettes being removed, as desired, through the opening thus made in the top package wall.

In accordance with my invention, the top wall of the package P may be provided with an opening as described above and then inserted into the container C. Thereupon, the walls 2 and 211 may be moved towards each other by pressure manually applied as indicated in Fig. 1 and thecover member 3 moved to closed position. Then, when the application of pressure to the walls 2, 2a is discontinued the cover member 3 becomes latched to the wall 201 due to engagement effected between the flange 2b of wall 211 and the curvededge as of'cover member 3, the parts in this'position being related as shown in Fig. 4.

The container C and the thereby-carried package P may now be transported as desired, for example, in the pocket of a garment or in a handbag. When it is desired to remove one or more of the aforesaid cigarettes A from the package P, the container C may begrasped as illustrated in Fig. 1 and pressure applied to the walls 2 and 2a to force them toward each other to some extent. By so doing, the lip 2b of wall 2a is removed from engagement. with the curved edge 3a of cover member 3 and, as a result, the latter, under the influence of spring 5, swings to open position. Thereupon, one or more of the cigarettes A may be removed from the package P and, thereafter, the cover member 3 may be latched in closed position in the manner heretofore described.

The straps 7, 7a, or equivalent, are especially satisfactory and desirable because largely or substantially precluding accidental or unintended opening or unlatching of the cover member 3. With the various parts positioned as illustrated in Fig.4, the walls 2, 2a, under the influence of their inherent resiliency tend to move from each other and, therefore, the aforesaid latched relation obtains. When bringing the walls 2, 2a into the relation shown in Fig. 3, where the cover memher 3 is just ready to swing to open position, the applied force is resisted by the strap '7, 7a,

or equivalent, and, therefore, the force required to effect unlatching of the cover member 3 is greater than would be the case were the straps 7, 7a, or equivalent, not provided. As a result, unintended unlatching of the cover member 3 is largely precluded.

When the cover member 3 is to be unlatched, it is desirable that'force be applied to the wall 2a substantially centrally thereof and adjacent the top thereof, for example, as indicated in Fig. 1. As a result, said wall 2a takes a bow-shaped configuration, the maximum deflection occurring substantially at the center thereof. Under the influence of the applied force, the sides of said wall 20. may or may not be shifted with respect to the wall 2. However, if side deflection of the wall 2a does occur, the straps '7, 711, will shift toward, into or beyond the respective positions thereof shown by the broken lines of Fig. 7.

When the latching mechanism is of the character hereinbefore stated, it is desirable that the lip or flange 2b of the wall 2a be of such length that it does not extend entirely from side to side of said wall 2a. Thus, said lip or flange 22) may be shortened as much as desirable and may be of the length indicated by the dimension d of Fig. 2, or less as desired. This length characteristic of said lip or flange 22) may be as just described due to the fact that maximum deflection of the wall 2a occurs substantially centrally thereof as described above.

The container C should be of such configuration as to snugly receive the package P, the straps 7, 7a, or equivalent, and the flanges 6, when provided, serving to prevent sidewise movement of said package out of said container. With the cover member 3 of the container C latched in closed position, the walls 2, 2a need not exert pressure on the respective adjacent package walls although, if desired, the arrangement may be otherwise and pressure may be exerted by said walls 2, 2a.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9,there is illustrated a modified form of my invention wherein straps or other members are not connected to the front and rear container walls. Thus, the container C1 of Figs. 8 and 9 comprises a base, front and rear walls, a cover member and a biasing spring therefor substantially as hereinbefore described in connection with the container C. However, if desired, the lip or flange 2b of container C1 may extend substantially from side 'to' side or the wall 2a instead of being shorter as illustrated in connection with the container C.

Normally, and when free from restraint, the walls 2 and 2a of container C1 may diverge in a direction leading from the base 1. Thus, for example, said walls 2 and 2a, normally, may assume a position such as illustrated in Fig. 9. Accordingly, to close the cover member 3 of container C1, it becomes necessary to apply pressure to said last-named walls 2, 2a, such pressure, ordinarily, being manually applied as illustrated in Fig. 8 whereby said last-named walls 2 and 2a are moved toward each other by action of the thumb and fingers of one hand. When said lastnamed walls 2 and 2a have been moved toward each other to a suflicient extent, the cover memher 3 may be swung to its closed position whereby, after pressure is released from the walls 2 and 2a, the lip 21) of wall 2a interlocks with the 2a of container C1, when the cover member 3 is.

closed as justdescribed,"is preferably so chosen as to be somewhat or slightly less than the outer surface thickness of the package Pv and, accordingly, when said walls 2, 2a are latohedin closed position, they apply or exert pressure to or on the respective adjacent package walls whereby said package is frictionally'retained within the container C1. However, if desired, the arrangement may be such that the walls of saidcontainer C1 exert little or no pressure onthe. respective" adjacent package walls. L

Obviously, the cover member 3 of the container 01 maybe opened in a manner similar to that heretofore described in-connection with the opening of the cover. member of container'C. To facilitate removal of cigarettes from the package P, the bottom wall l-of either of the containers C or Crmay be apertured'in any suitable manner such, for example, as illustrated-in Fig. Gwhereinsaid bottom wall is shown as comprising an opening lot. When said bottom wall is ,thus provided with an opening la, the above described opening in the top wall of the package P should be disposed :above said opening lot when associating the package P with the container C. If this is done, the user may apply pressure to the bottom. wall of the cigarette package P by inserting the end of a finger into and through the aforesaid opening 1a whereby the cigarettes immediately thereabove'are elevated and more readily withdrawn from the package P through the opening at the top thereof. As shown in Fig. 6, the bottom wall 1 of either of the containers C or C1 may be provided, with a second opening lb which contributes to the ornate appearance of said bottom wall'and which may have some function in elevating the cigarettes C to permit ready withdrawal thereof from the package P.

For convenience of description, the herein described wall 2 is referred to as the rear container wall, while the wall 2a is referred to as the front container wall. Where the above described opening is formed at the top wall of the cigarette package P at one side thereof, as it usually is, the space between said front and rear container walls at the sides thereof has functional utility, particularly in that the user may apply manual pressure directly to one side of the package P whereby cigarettes may be shifted laterally in said package. This may be desirable under some circumstances because after removal of some of the cigarettes, the others may remain closely packed in the package beneath that portion of the top wall thereof which has not been torn or cut away.

To decrease weight, the front and rear container walls may be apertured in any suitable manner. As herein illustrated, the container weight is decreased by providing elongated slots 9 in the front and rear container walls, said slots 9, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 8, imparting a pleasing appearance to the respective containers and decreasing the weight thereof. However, it shall be understood that the aforesaid front and rear container walls may be non-apertured, if desired, or they may be apertured in any suitable manner different from that herein shown, whereby said containers may be characterized as of skeleton-like configuration.

Containers constructed in accordance with my invention are particularly advantageous because reinforcing'or retaining the package P in substantially its original shape even' though the latter contains but a few cigarettes. reason, there is little or no tendency to flatten or damage the cigarettes such as'often occurs when an unprotected package is carried in a pocket. Furthermore, in accordance with my invention the cover member 3 functions as a closure member for the opening which is necessarily formed in the top package wall for the removal of cigarettes. Still further, the cover member 3,-to a great extent, retains loose fragments of tobacco within the package P.

The size or capacity of the containers C and C1 maybe such as is suitable or desirable and they maybe adapted to receive packages of the character hereinbefore described or different as to size 01' configuration as desired.

The latching mechanism herein described as comprising the flange or lip 22) of wall 2a and the curved edge 3a of cover member 3 is illustrative of. one only of the many suitable forms of latching mechanisms that may be utilized.

Under some circumstances, the container walls may be relatively stiff and non-flexible, the latching mechanism operating independently thereof in the sense that movement of said walls with respect to each other is not required to effect operation of such latching mechanism. With such an arrangement, more or less complete side walls may be provided, if desired.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. ,An article ofthe character described comprising walls movable toward and from each other and having a connecting base forming an U-shaped structure adapted to receive a package of cigarettes, straps connecting said walls together at their sides, a cover pivoted to one of said walls, and means for effecting interlocking engagement between said cover and the other of said walls. 7

2. An article of the character described comprising walls movable toward and from each other and having a connecting base forming an U-shaped structure adapted to receive a package of cigarettes, resilient straps connecting said walls together at their sides and disposed closer the top of said structure than the bottom thereof, a cover pivoted to one of said walls, and means for effecting interlocking engagement between said cover and the other of said walls.

3. An article of the character described comprising sheet-like walls movable toward and from each other and having a connecting base forming an U-shaped structure adapted to receive a package of cigarettes, resilient straps connecting said walls together at their sides and disposed closer the top of said structure than the bottom thereof, a cover pivoted to one of said walls, means for biasing said cover toward open position, and means for effecting interlocking engagement between said cover and the other of said walls, said For this walls being apertured whereby said structureis of skeleton-like configuration.

4. A container for a package of cigarettesor the like, said container comprising spaced walls movable with respect to each other, a cover pivoted to one of said walls and adapted to be latched to another of said walls, said cover, when in latching position, retaining said Walls in predetermined position relative to each other whereby they exert pressure on said package, said Walls tending to assume a greater spaced relation, under the influence of their inherent resiliency, when said cover is in unlatched position, and

means for preventing undue separation of said walls.

5. An article of the character described comprising walls movable toward and from each other and having a connecting base forming a U- shaped structure adapted to receive a package of cigarettes or the like, a cover pivoted to one of said walls, means for effecting interlocking engagement between said cover and another of said walls, said cover retaining said walls in predetermined position relative to each other whereby they exert pressure on said package, and means connecting said walls together at their sides and throughout a part only of their height.

6. A container for a package of cigarettes, said container comprising spaced walls movable with with respect to and unconnected to each other throughout substantially the entire height thereof, and a member for releasably retaining said walls in predetermined position relative to each other whereby they exert pressure on said package.

7. A container for a package of cigarettes,

said container comprising spaced walls movable with respect to and unconnected to each other throughout substantially the entire height thereof, and a member for releasably retaining said walls in predetermined position relative to each other whereby they exert pressure on said package, said member serving as a cover for said package.

8.*A container for a package of cigarettes,

said container comprising spaced walls movable with respect to'and unconnected to each other throughout substantially the entire height there.- of, a member for releasably retaining said walls inpredetermined position relative to each other whereby they exertpressure on saidpackage, said member conforming in area andconfiguration.

with the top "package Wallwhich it covers and being pivoted to one of said: spaced walls, and means for biasing said member to uncovering position. 1 i

9. A container for a package of cigarettes, said container comprising spaced walls movable with respect to each other, and a pivoted cover member for releasablyjretaining said walls in predeterminedposition relative to each other whereby theyexert pressure on the respective front and rear walls of said package, said container comprising end walls coactable with, the respective end wallsof said packagefor restraining sidewise' movement of said package with respect to said container, said end walls being substantially less inh'eight than said first named walls.

10. An article of the character described comprising resilient walls and a connecting base forminga U-shaped structure adapted to receive a package of cigarettes, said walls when unrestrained diverging in a direction leading from said base, a cover plate pivoted to one of said walls, means for biasing said cover plate in one direction, and means for effecting locking engagement between said cover plate and the other of said walls, said cover plate, when in looking engagement restraining said walls and preventing maximum divergence thereof;

11. An article of the character described comprising a base having spaced walls upstanding therefrom and when unrestrained diverging in a. direction leading from said base, a member pivoted to one of said walls, a spring biasing said member in one direction, and means for effecting interlocking engagement between said member and the other of said walls, said member retaining said walls in substantially parallel relation.

LOUIS V. ARONSON. 

